The Country Chalet Columbus is one such place. It’s not a true bed and breakfast, since you don’t share the lodgings, meals or ambiance with anyone else. Instead, you rent three acres of hilly wooded seclusion along with a renovated bungalow that’s part art gallery part nature center.

The chalet features a rock waterfall and fireplace in the living room. The bedroom contains a handmade king-size bed and another waterfall streaming into a Jacuzzi. Hand-carved woodwork and stained-glass windows predominate throughout the bungalow.

You’ll never even meet the owners, Bill and Kathleen Bowen. They prefer to arrange payment ahead of your visit and leave you undisturbed to enjoy the chalet and yourselves.

"We envisioned a really beautiful place for people to be together," Bill Bowen said of the concept behind the chalet. And they make it more than beautiful. They work with the couples to create a very special retreat, from rose petals along the path to making sure a special cake is already there, waiting for the couple. Once, a man sent them the ring he bought to propose with. He wanted it floating in the little pond in the chalet. Bill and Kathleen made that happen. Since they never meet the people in person, they have to do a lot of talking on the phone.

"When I’m talking to people, that’s when their service begins," Bill explained. "I try to set them up with fun surprises and we do extra things that we don’t put on the website or in the brochure. We really do cater to people. We like doing fun and different things. We help the couples surprise each other. We just get a kick out of doing it."

Not in the mood for staying in? Nearby Columbus – dubbed the "Athens of the Prairie" for the quality of its contemporary architecture – beckons visitors with more than 50 examples of world-class building design, much of it by internationally known architects. For shoppers, outlet malls north of Columbus offer a variety of goods at discounted prices and downtown Columbus features a variety of stores from clothing to books to jewelry.

For more information, call 812-342-7806 or check out the website, www.countrychaletcolumbus.com

Whether it’s snuggling up in front of a crackling fire, soaking in a steamy perfumed bath, or sampling a sumptuous late night dinner over wine and candlelight, Indiana offers a wide variety of accommodations designed especially for couples. These range from romantic retreats like the Country Chalet Columbus, nestled on the edge of beautiful Brown County (see story below), to the Loeb House Inn, a Lafayette treasure, to the elegant Inn at Aberdeen, which is set amidst the rolling hills of northern Indiana.

In Lafayette, the Loeb House Inn is located in the city’s Centennial Historic District. Built in 1882 in Grand Italianate style, the Loeb House will immerse you in old style grandeur.

Intricate details such as plaster ceiling medallions and crown moldings have been lovingly restored. The finely detailed fireplaces, chandeliers and parquet floors, as well as a stunning grand staircase, allow the house to maintain its period splendor.

The main floor includes a formal parlor and dining room as well as a double parlor. The house has five bedrooms, including Carrie’s Retreat, a romantic suite furnished in soft grey-greens and florals inspired by the home’s original wallpaper. The room also features a bay window, an elegant antique double bed, a two-person whirlpool tub and fireplace.

The house is located in the heart of Lafayette, with museums, theaters, restaurants, churches, historic sites and Purdue University nearby.

In northern Indiana, The Inn at Aberdeen is set amidst the rolling hills and meandering streams of Porter County, near Lake Michigan. Built more than 100 years ago on what once was a dairy farm, the farmhouse has been restored and enlarged into an elegant bed and breakfast.

The inn features 11 comfortable suites, each traditionally appointed in a regal Queen Anne style. Nine suites feature a romantic fireplace, private balcony, and individual baths with a shower and Jacuzzi.

You can also enjoy relaxing conversation in the over-stuffed chairs of the inn’s solarium, or while away the hours in the library or the old entry parlor. The inn also regularly hosts mystery weekends for amateur private eyes or romantic weekends for couples who only have eyes for each other.

Nearby Valparaiso offers sightseers a chance to visit the Memorial Opera House, which was built in 1893 as a memorial to Civil War veterans and the Old Jail Museum, built in 1871.

"We have a lot of people who come from five minutes away – just to get away from the kids," said Bill Simon, the innkeeper and chef at the Inn at Aberdeen. "We also have people who come every year for their anniversary or to celebrate a special occasion. People come for the peace and quiet and for the feeling that they’re being pampered."

Here’s a roundup of other romantic winter getaway spots in Indiana:

The Country Victorian Bed & Breakfast in Middlebury is located in the heart of historic Amish country. The Country Victorian features five bedrooms, including a honeymoon suite that captures the elegance of the Victorian era while pampering guests with modern conveniences. It has a queen-size pencil post bed and a full private bath with Jacuzzi tub.

The Country Victorian is just minutes from Shipshewana, the heart of the Amish culture in northern Indiana. Winter activities include horse-drawn sleigh or carriage rides and visiting nearby country stores stocked with handmade Amish goods. For active couples, there’s cross-country skiing on gently rolling nearby trails or downhill skiing available just a short drive away.

The Oliver Inn in South Bend is a magnificent 1886 Victorian mansion set on a one-acre estate with a carriage house and circa 1920 Victorian playhouse. This 25-room estate is a local historic landmark where guests experience the glow of Waterford crystal sconces, beautifully restored maple flooring, and a hand-crafted spiraling staircase, which is highlighted by a "guardian angel."

The inn is located just minutes from downtown South Bend and is adjacent to the Tippecanoe Place Restaurant, the former Studebaker mansion.

The University of Notre Dame and the College Football Hall of Fame, both located in South Bend, entice visitors to show their school spirit. Museum lovers can indulge their passion at the Studebaker National Museum, which details 114 years of rich Studebaker history.

In central Indiana, the Round Barn Inn Bed and Breakfast allows you to stay in a 1916 historic round barn, one of approximately 100 still standing in Indiana. This unique bed and breakfast features a great room with massive stone fireplace and southwest décor, a game room with pool table and game tables, reading loft, and fenced two-acre grounds.

The Round Barn Inn is located east of Indianapolis in McCordsville.

In Indianapolis, the Hampton Inn Downtown offers guests convenience and comfort in the heart of the nation’s 12th largest city. Located in a renovated building across from Hard Rock Café and Nordstrom department store, the hotel offers a package that includes a carriage ride through the Circle City’s downtown.

The Stone Soup Inn, located in the historic Old Northside of Indianapolis, offers all the beauty and comfort of an upscale turn-of-the-century home. The Inn offers guests a large foyer and library, upstairs sitting room, and a balcony overlooking a garden and lily pond. All rooms contain beautifully detailed woodwork, hardwood floors and a mix of mission-style and Victorian antiques.

In eastern Indiana, the historic Lantz House Inn in Centerville is located in the heart of Indiana’s "Antique Alley," which stretches east along U.S. 40 from Indianapolis to the Ohio state line. The inn features impeccable hospitality amidst simple elegance.

In southern Indiana, White Oaks Cabins at Patoka Lake offer an ideal wintertime retreat for nature lovers. Located on 45 pristine wooded acres just minutes from Patoka Lake, each of the eight log cabins is self-contained, except for food.

Adventurous guests can hike the nearby forests to enjoy the wildlife and scenery.

No matter your choice of location or method of relaxation, Indiana offers the perfect way to warm your heart, refresh your soul, and beat the winter blahs.

For Indiana information about romantic mid-winter getaways, call (877) ENJOY-IN.